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Early hunts for deer, small game scheduled in October

Archery hunters are already afield in Pennsylvania with the early bow and arrow deer season which opened last Saturday across the Commonwealth.

Following closely are the early firearms seasons. The early muzzleloader season will be held Oct. 13-20, and special firearms season for junior, senior, active duty military and certain disabled hunters is on tap for Oct. 18-20.

Following will be the small game seasons for for squirrels and grouse, so there will be plenty of hunting opportunities across the state, Carl G. Roe, Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director, announced recently.

Roe said these early antlerless deer seasons provide hunters more ways to fit deer hunting into their busy schedules, and offer a more relaxing hunt to those who prefer warmer weather and fewer hunters in the woods.

"Although the October antlerless seasons increase hunting opportunities, their harvests still are controlled by antlerless deer license allocations, which are set to remove a predetermined number of antlerless deer from a Wildlife Management Unit (WMU)," he added.

The game commission says thunters will find that "deer numbers vary by locality" during these early seasons.

Muzzleloader hunters heading into the woods for the early Oct. 13-20 season need the general hunting license, a muzzleloader stamp and a valid antlerless license or a Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) antlerless permit. In-line, percussion and flintlock muzzleloaders may be used during this early season. Scopes, peep-sights and other "lawful" sighting devices are allowed on muzzleloaders at this time.

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During the early special firearms season on Oct. 18-20, hunters need hunting licenses and valid antlerless licenses and must qualify in one of the following license categories: resident junior and senior license holders; nonresident junior license holder; nonresident adult license holders aged 65 and older; hold a disabled person permit to use a vehicle as a blind; residents who are serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Based on a recent change in state law and Game Commission regulations, these two antlerless deer seasons now are open to participants of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, which was created for those under the age of 12. Mentored youth must obtain a MYHP permit, worth $2.70, for the current year, and they may receive only one antlerless deer license by transfer during a license year. Adult mentors may transfer more than one antlerless deer license, but they must be to different mentored youth. The transfer is valid only if done in the wildlife management unit for which the antlerless deer license was issued.

Venison care: With the current warm temperatures, it is a no-brainer that special care must be taken with game that is harvested.

Deer hunters must be aware proper field-dressing and the warm weather can impact the quality of venison.

Dr. Walter Cottrell, PGC veterinarian, says, "After properly tagging their deer, hunters should wear latex gloves to remove the entrails. Care should be taken to remove entrails without rupturing them, and hunters should drain excess blood remaining in the cavity. Do not wash out the deer with water or in a creek. Wipe down the cavity with a dry cloth or paper towels, being careful to remove all visible blood and hair."

Once entrails are removed, the deer should be taken from the field and cooled down as soon as possible. The cool-down process begins when you field-dress the deer.

To hasten the cool-down process, skin the deer and hang the carcass in the shade, refrigerate it or place a bag of ice in the body cavity. Never place a deer carcass - with or without the hide on it - in direct sunlight.

"The bacterial load of a deer harvested in warm weather will multiply quickly, so it's important to dress the deer as soon as possible, transport it from the field and remove the hide, wipe it down with a clean, dry towel to remove blood and refrigerate the carcass," Dr. Cottrell said. "Cooling the carcass will help prevent bacterial growth."

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